Chapter 740: Understanding (2)

Chapter 740: Chapter 457: Understanding (2)

The reason for this was, in the end, that his body was simply too weak.

Although the Heaven-Seizing Technique was powerful, the rules of this world and the limitations of a mortal vessel meant that even after plundering Narok’s Vitality and Qi and Blood, the increase in power was limited.

The reason he’d been able to instantly snap the hemp ropes and kill the four militiamen was that Hu Qi had forcefully mobilized the Qi and Blood in his body for a short-term burst of power.

This action resulted in widespread sprains and muscle tears.

‘Anyone else would have been completely incapacitated.’

Earlier, to project an image of strength, Hu Qi had only healed his external wounds. Significant injuries still remained within his body.

Fortunately, as time went on,

these wounds began to heal, and his capillaries started to mend.

Before long, a clamor arose from Gray Leaf Village in the distance.

Looking closely, he could see a group of people with torches, searching for something.

‘They must be looking for me.’

However, the search party only circled the outskirts of the village before returning empty-handed.

Hu Qi gave them a single glance and paid them no further mind.

Half an hour passed.

The plundered Vitality was exhausted, but by then, the injuries inside his body had also finished healing.

Only then did he pull the Dagger from the tree trunk and slide to the ground.

He made his way to a small stream and washed the bloodstains from his body.

During this time,

he used the faint moonlight and his reflection in the water to get a good look at his new body’s appearance.

Long, golden hair and wine-red eyes.

A high-bridged nose and deep-set eyes—the features of a typical Caucasian.

The only thing was, his face was still a bit boyish.

His golden hair was a mess, but it still held a faint luster under the weak moonlight.

His red eyes stood out in the dark, like two flickering flames that radiated a dangerous, feral light.

His coarse linen clothes hung from his frame like rags, revealing a solid physique beneath.

The fabric was mottled with bloodstains. Some had dried to a dark brown, while others were still a fresh Crimson.

This was a world away from the frail, scrawny body he remembered, whose ribs had been clearly visible.

This change was, of course, because the Heaven-Seizing Technique had used the plundered Qi and Blood to fortify his body.

Hu Qi was fairly satisfied with this.

While this body was merely that of a somewhat stronger-than-average person, it was a vast improvement over his previous condition.

Soon after, he finished washing up.

He stood, got his bearings, then slipped into the nearby woods and quickly vanished.

…

「Half an hour earlier.」

In White Bear Village, not far from Gray Leaf Village.

KNOCK KNOCK…

A knock came at the door.

“Come in!”

A deep, masculine voice called from inside the room.

The steward, Chat, took a deep breath.

He reached out and pushed the door open, stepping inside.

Instantly,

the scene inside the village chief’s house unfolded before him.

Hunting trophies adorned the walls: a deer’s head, wild boar tusks, and more.

A fire crackled in a nearby hearth.

Perhaps because the night wind gusted in as he opened the door,

the flames in the hearth leaped,

casting the shadow of a tall, burly figure onto the wall.

It was a tall man, who currently had his back to Chat, gazing up at a mural on the wall.

The man didn’t turn at the sound of the door.

Instead, he spoke calmly.

“What is it?”

“Lord Ired, there’s been… a situation over at Gray Leaf Village.”

Chat said, his head lowered.

He quickly summarized what had happened.

After he finished speaking,

the room instantly fell into a dead silence.

The only sound was the faint crackle and pop of the fire licking at the logs in the hearth.